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Ethnic Inclusion

Ethnic Inclusion falls under the umbrella of the Outreach, Admisssions, Scholarships and Inclusion Services (OASIS) group which serves the needs of underrepresented students as they pursue engineering degrees. The Ethnic Inclusion for Iowa Engineering supports faculty, staff and students within the University of Iowa College of Engineering through developing integrative programming to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment that drives excellence in engineering.

Ethnic Inclusion falls under the umbrella of the Outreach, Admissions, Scholarships and Inclusion Services (OASIS) group which serves the needs of underrepresented students as they pursue engineering degrees.

The Ethnic Inclusion for Iowa Engineering supports faculty, staff and students within the University of Iowa College of Engineering through developing integrative programming to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment that drives excellence in engineering.

The mission of Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering is to develop and implement integrative programing to:

Help solve national ethnic diversity issues in the engineering disciplines

Promote cultural awareness and sensitivity for all Iowa engineers

Providing graduate development opportunities for minority students

It is the goal of the Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering, together with its corporate sponsors, to provide the model for all institutions of higher education in demonstrating that a truly welcoming environment promotes excellence in engineering and that culturally conscious engineers are superior in achieving corporate or academic technical advancements.

With the help of our Corporate Sponsors, the Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering supports programs to expose pre-college students to potential careers in science and engineering, recommend a successful curriculum to prepare them for college as science or engineering majors, and introduce them to science and engineering professors and other professionals who are on the forefront of cutting-edge technology and science development. These activities include Noche De Ciencias (Family Science Night), Black Girls Do Science, and the Multi-ethnic Engineering and Science Association tutoring program with the Iowa City Community School District.

It is the goal of the Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering, together with its corporate sponsors, to provide the model for all institutions of higher education in demonstrating that a truly welcoming environment promotes excellence in engineering and that culturally conscious engineers are superior in achieving corporate or academic technical advancements.

Donors to Ethnic Inclusion benefit from the increasing pool of engineers equipped to work in diverse cultures. The societal impact of engineering is increased as these diversity efforts reach into the community at large. Through these efforts donors have the opportunity to identify and develop relationships with diverse engineering students and make an impression early in their careers.

Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering is grateful for the generous donations of leading sponsors of this initiative. Financial support provides annual general operating funds which help staff carry out the core work of recruitment, campus visits, promotional materials, and web site development. Activities funded by donors include outreach to ethnically diverse communities for recruiting, summer programing, and tutoring. Through your support Ethnic Inclusion Effort for Iowa Engineering will continue to:

Help solve national ethnic diversity issues in the engineering discipline.

Provide a welcoming and inclusive environment that drives excellence in engineering.

Promote cultural awareness and sensitivity in all Iowa engineers.

Increase enrollment of underrepresented minorities in the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Experiential Learning – Co-ops, Internships

The College’s Co-op and Internship Program creates partnerships among students, the College, and employers by facilitating the development of institutionally supervised engineering related field experiences. These co-op and internship experiences further professional growth for the student, create an influx of the latest theoretical knowledge and technology to the employer, and serve as a primary tool for recruitment and career development. The close interaction of employer, student and the College enables our students to include professional experience in their engineering education, a primary goal of the College.

Engineering Career Connect

Engineering Professional Development is a comprehensive career services office within the College of Engineering that serves students and alumni of the College of Engineering. Professional staff members are available to help students--first year through graduate--acquire skills which will allow them to choose and attain personally rewarding careers, through exploration of career direction and the development of job search skills.

Scholarships

Ethnic Inclusion corporate partners use student scholarships as a way of identifying potential talent, informing students of career opportunities with the firm, and rewarding students who may have successfully performed a co-op experience, internship, or project. In many cases, scholarship recipients have committed to full-time employment with a company upon graduation.

Site Field Trips

Ethnic Inclusion corporate partners often host field trips for students and faculty. The experience provides College participants with first-hand knowledge of a variety of business and industrial environments. Trips usually last from a half-day to an entire day

Mentors for Students

The College has established close relationships with business leaders who are both alumni and non-alumni and have agreed to be available to mentor students about their careers.

Student Design Projects

In the increasingly competitive global market, the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and projects is among the most important traits of emerging new engineers. In response to the need, The Program of Enhanced Design Experience was created. The Program for Enhanced Design Experience (PEDE) exposes students in a team-based setting to solve real-world industrial problems. The program is a joint effort between The University of Iowa College of Engineering and industrial firms to enhance the design experience of undergraduate students at The University of Iowa. The program goals are to expose senior undergraduate students to engineering design by having the students work closely with engineers from industry on a design for a product that is scheduled for production. In addition, the College and its departments provide shorter, several-week or semester-long senior design projects as well.

Corporate Guest Lectures, Seminars

Ethnic Inclusion partner executives are called upon frequently to present lectures and seminars to students and faculty in the College. The speaking events enable an exchange of ideas and a better understanding among students of the value of engineering and technology in a broad cross-section of industries. The College has a specially-designed Business Visitors Center to accommodate visiting Ethnic Inclusion executives as a place to prepare for class as well as a location to conduct business away from their corporate office.

Equipment, Gift-in-Kind Support

Many Ethnic Inclusion corporate partners often donate equipment and other gift-in-kind products and services that are used in the classroom and laboratories. This gives students an opportunity to experience equipment and products first-hand and keeps the College up to date on state-of-the-art tools used in business and industry.